American Syrian Community Rallies for the People of Syria

posted on: Sep 5, 2012

American Syrian activists will host three fundraisers on behalf of the people of Syria to help cover medical costs.

The fundraisers will be held in Detroit on Sept. 14, Chicago on Sept. 15 and Cleveland on Sept. 16, and are sponsored by the Syrian American Medical Society and the Syrian Sunrise Foundation.

A key feature at the fundraisers will be a mural painted by renown French artist Roger Dale in the tradition of the famous effort by the late Pablo Picasso’s mural, Guernica, which was painted and used as a rallying cry for Spanish independence during the Spanish War in 1937.

“We are taking an important page from the history of people standing up for freedom in holding these fundraisers,” explained one of the coordinators, Dr. Malaz Alatassi.

“In 1937, Picasso painted a famous mural that was displayed at the International Fair held that year in Paris, France and that mural helped awaken the world to the plight of the oppressed people of Spain,” Alatassi said.

“We expect hundreds of people to attend the fundraisers in each of the three cities, Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland, and to be inspired by this effort to parallel history.”

Picasso was commissioned by the Spanish Republican Government to create the painting memorializing Guernica, a city in the Basque region of Spain that had come under attacked earlier that year by Nazi Germany and Italian forces.

The “Guernica” mural became a symbol of protest against oppression and fascism and helped to rally world support against the Nazis and in support of freedom for the people of Spain. It was displayed at the 1937 World Exposition in Paris.

The Picasso mural brought the plight of the Spanish Civil War to the world’s attention.

This year, world renown French Artist Roger Dale will strive to do the same with a mural he has painted in support of the people of Syria and the Syrian pro-Democracy movement.

“Thousands of civilians are being injured and killed by Syrian military forces and the civil war in Syria reminds us of the civil war in Spain and the rallying of support for human rights it provoked around the world,” Alatassi said.

The Detroit Fundraiser will be held at the Auburn Hills Marriott, 3600 Centerpoint Parkway, Pontiac, Michigan.

For Tickets Contact:
Raya Rass at 248-824-0442
248-824-0442
Malaz Alatassi, 248-953-0526
Hanadi Alatassi,
248-953-0899
Heba Dlewati, 810-410-5590